State bill proposes right to carry concealed weapons on campus

A controversial bill in the Kansas House of Federal and State Affairs Committee would allow concealed carry permit holders to bring firearms onto college and university campuses.

The University Daily Kansan wrote:

Many supporters of the bill believe it is their constitutional right to carry firearms in public under the Second Amendment.

However, Richard Levy, University School of Law Professor of Constitutional Law, does not think current interpretations of the amendment call for concealed carry on campus.

“I don’t think there is a strong argument under the law as it stands that it is required by the state to allow concealed carry in public places under the Second Amendment,” Levy said.

Levy said the original interpretation of the amendment was the right to bear arms for militia purposes, but in 2008 the Supreme Court ruled individuals have the right possess firearms for personal protection under District of Columbia V. Heller.

“The Second Amendment didn’t create conceal and carry,” Levy said. “The Second Amendment doesn’t tells us if you have the right to have the weapon on your person, or which places it is and isn’t okay to have a weapon."

Levy thinks if the bill passes it would be difficult to have it overturned.